Mayor Lou Rosamilia's administration suspended city Planning and Economic Commissioner Bill Dunne on Friday from his $72,450 post over his handling of a sidewalk project.

The suspension followed complaints by Republican Councilman Mark McGrath about Dunne's explanation for how the city expected to pay for a sidewalk planned for the north side of 101st Street next to Freedom Square.

"I overstepped my bounds. I did not inform my employer what I was doing," Dunne said Friday.

Dunne, a former Democratic councilman, is suspended for five days without pay.

"Bill Dunne is still employed by the city of Troy and I cannot comment any further because it's a personnel issue," said Jessica Sibley, a spokeswoman for Rosamilia, a Democrat.

McGrath said Dunne told him that federal funds would be used for the sidewalk. The area covered by the CDBG grants ends on the south side of 101st Street. The sidewalk is on the north side of the street and would not have been eligible for federal funding. It is also adjacent to the Sanctuary for Independent Media.

More Information

Deputy Mayor Peter Ryan said late Friday that the Sanctuary for Independent Media and the sidewalk contractor, J. R. Casale, reached a private agreement on the installation of the sidewalk.

Freedom Square is expected to be developed by the Sanctuary for Independent Media as a community arts and gathering space. The plan arose out of a settlement of a federal civil rights lawsuit the Sanctuary filed against the city several years ago.